Tom Richards

A moment ago I received a message from a 'fan' who had kindly purchased Dolphin Song. She messaged me saying...
YOU ARE AWESOME!
Which is a wonderful thing to type. But, well, you see... I dont want to be AWESOME... I just want to be Tom. Here's why...
Fame is like a Golden Calf. People look at it from afar. They bow and curtsy. They don't see or hear it because there's nothing behind the glitter. I dont want that. I dont want fans. I want and need FRIENDS.
People I can have a meal with, a beer with. People I can laugh with and cry with. People who I can listen to and who can listen to me. Connecting that way makes life...well...life.
So if you reach out to me please dont say I'M AWESOME. Instead say Hi Tom. And I promise to say hi back.
WE MARCH FOR Liam O'Neill
Www.tomrichards.ie

Dolphin Song THE DOLPHIN CALLED MY FATHER'S NAME... My father, retired United Airlines Captain Bill Richards, flew West today, following a Dolphins song. He was an absolutely great Dad, teaching me to fly when I was a mere Gossan. I'll miss him terribly though I won't grieve. That's finished already.

So many have lost people we love. But as Dawn says in the novel... "They're here. Right here."

Just as Dad is for me. He took off, heading West, and has already landed. As the pilot's poem High Flight says so well, on the way he reached up and touched the face of God.

Blessings on you all. Tom. Www.tomrichards.ie

To all my friends at Goodreads From: Tom Ref: once again I'm out of words.

As you may know I had a Giveaway running for DS. Dolphin Song It finished yesterday. And I'd like to say this.

A book launch is so very hard. To have any chance of success at all, a fella needs some visibility for his/her new unknown, 'no one wants to read' novel. 2 'shop windows' exist for online book publishers that act as a showcase and both are critical: Amazon and Goodreads.

1,160 people entered the DS competition for a chance to win 1 of 50 Kindle editions. 1126 people placed DS on their Want To Read Shelf.

I'm speechless. www.tomrichards.ie

Dolphin Song

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12n-C...

Chapter 6: Cracking the Frustrating World of Global Online Book Markets (the final chapter) is right here for you. It's free. It's yours. I hope it helps.

The Irish romantic fantasy novel, Dolphin Song, remains #1 on Amazon US New Releases in its categories.

The Voyage of Legend Continues

www.tomrichards.ie

Chapter 5: a How to Guide on Cracking the Online Global Book Market. It's yours. It's free - no strings attached: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q6_k...

Dolphin Song, the Irish romantic fantasy, remains at #1 Amazon US new release in its category and has done so for 10 consecutive days. I am overwhelmed by the 100s of messages I'm receiving daily and the outpouring of love. We swim on for Liam.

www.tomrichards.ie

Dolphin SongDolphin Song remains at #1, Amazon US new releases in its categories for the 8th consecutive day. I was out of words yesterday. Today, my head can't grasp this.

Anyway... I needed to do something 'normal'. So I wrote the 4th Chapter of Cracking the Frustrating World of Global Online Book Markets. It's yours. It's free... from me to you as a way of paying it forward. I hope it helps you on your own journey. Blessings. Tom

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LDjF...

When I looked this morning, Dolphin Song was still swimming at #1, Amazon US New Release in it's category. I'm not going to look again until late tonight. Maybe I won't look at all. It's enough to drive a guy around the twist.... Here's the next chapter if you want it:
Chapter Three - cracking the world of global online book marketing: the 3rd P... Point of sale and distribution. It's right here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o04w...

The first two chapters are linked to this. It's free if you think it'll help you on your writer's journey. Share it around.
www.tomrichards.ie

Slan from Beara. I wish ye all so very well.

I've found the marketing of Dolphin Song to be so so so very hard. Yesterday, I worked for 18 hours.

I wanted to share what I've learned with others. Last week, I shared Ch 1 of a How To Guide. This week it's Chapter Two: Pricing Strategies.

It's free. It's for anyone who wants. You can get it right here.

Slan from Beara, County Cork, Ireland. And thank you for you many kind words and prayers. Tom

2nd Chapter: Pricing Strategies - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xFZZ...

Here's an example of the mailing I sent
to team member today. Please help: https://www.tomrichards.ie/contact/ or tomrichards@earthnet.ie
Good morning or afternoon or evening where ever you might be.

A week or so ago, I contacted everyone that’s been BCC’d to this email (I’m using Blind copying to protect anonymity) about the ‘launch’, shall we call it, of the Dolphin Song Global Support Teams. Each of you have offered to lend your assistance, helping to spread the word about this Irish romantic fantasy novel. For that, I am truly grateful.

IF I MISUNDERSTOOD AND YOU WOULD NO LONGER LIKE TO RECEIVE THESE PERIODIC EMAILINGS, please let me know and I promise to delete you from the list instantly. My sincere apologies if I misunderstood.

The intention of this 1st email is to sort of introduce you to each other (using 1st names only, I assure you!), tell you how things now stand, and ask just a bit more of your help….

AN INTRODUCTION!!!! (SFX: drum roll)

Here’s a breakdown of our Dolphin Song Teams:

TEAM IRELAND
• David
• Sue
• Ken
• Anne
• Annabel
• Kristin
• Cathy
• Jonathan
• Sue

TEAM UK
• Larry
• Chris
• Sue
• Boo
• Wil

(Boo and Sue above live in Ireland – but they know many people in the UK and around the world!)

TEAM USA
• Bill
• Eve
• Michelle
• Debbie
• Ann
• Cindy
• Peggy
• Patricia
• Anne
• Danny

Let’s give each other a big clap, shall we 😊 (SFX: applause as we clap for each other from across the seas!)

Where Dolphin Song Stands on 17 August 2021

As you all know, I am astonished by the performance of the novel and know that my friend Liam O’Neill would be shocked, surprised and oh-so-very pleased. Here are the rankings right now, based on relevant categories for each market;

• The paperback outperforms in the US at NUMBER ONE (#1) position in Contemporary British & Irish Literature; #10 in Australia; #20 in Germany; #40 in Canada; and trailing in the UK, #224

Note that I don’t know how many copies of the paperback or Kindle formats have sold, nor do I care. Rankings indicate trends, and those trends are all on the up. Too, it’s not about the money at all (complete disclosure: I make a buck a copy). As you all know, it’s about Liam and making good on his wishes.

Press
The reaction by local press has been surprising, even though the book has only been available for 8 days. I guess word is spreading. I was interviewed yesterday and today by local papers. When those are published (this week and next), it SHOULD generate interest from other regions in the country including radio, TV and the larger media. The objective: what I’m hoping is that, eventually, a so-called ‘Influencer’ (think Oprah) will hear of the novel and give it a mention. Then we all get out of the way as the sales boulder gathers momentum. But I can only wish…

Other Resources
I’ve set up a Media Kit to make it easier for the press. The Kit contains photos, press releases, and similar. You can access it too if you need anything. Go to: https://www.tomrichards.ie/press-kit/. Scroll down the page until you see the DS book cover. Click on CLICK FOR MEDIA KIT, and it takes you right there.

What You Can Do Right Now
I’m asking for only two things:

a. The First Free Chapter – I’m attaching this as a pdf document. PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERY friend, relative, group, associate, enemy and complete stranger you know, or don’t know. My intention is that it will generate interest in the book and motive more sales. Do please open it and take a look. As you can see, the first page sort of explains what DS is all about, tells readers where they can purchase, and asks anyone in receipt of it to, in turn, pass it on to THEIR friends. So its rather like word of mouth. The more people who receive it, the more awareness it will generate. I hope…

b. The tomrichards website – I’ve never had my own website and I’m already embarrassed about it. However, this is what the pro’s tell ya to do, so who am I to argue? As with the Free Chapter pdf, please send the URL out too. If you open the website, you’ll see that visitors can order Dolphin Song no matter where they live with a Single Click

c. Here is the URL: https://www.tomrichards.ie/

Do please take care where ever you are. And thank you so very much for your continuing support and encouragement. You don’t know how grateful I am.

With so many blessings from Beara. And thank you, again.
Dolphin Song

Team members will see something like this every week or so. This is the email that went out today. Do pls help: https://www.tomrichards.ie/contact/ or mailto:tomrichards@earthnet.ie
______________

Good morning or afternoon or evening where ever you might be.

A week or so ago, I contacted everyone that’s been BCC’d to this email (I’m using Blind copying to protect anonymity) about the ‘launch’, shall we call it, of the Dolphin Song Global Support Teams. Each of you have offered to lend your assistance, helping to spread the word about this Irish romantic fantasy novel. For that, I am truly grateful.

IF I MISUNDERSTOOD AND YOU WOULD NO LONGER LIKE TO RECEIVE THESE PERIODIC EMAILINGS, please let me know and I promise to delete you from the list instantly. My sincere apologies if I misunderstood.

The intention of this 1st email is to sort of introduce you to each other (using 1st names only, I assure you!), tell you how things now stand, and ask just a bit more of your help….

AN INTRODUCTION!!!! (SFX: drum roll)

Here’s a breakdown of our Dolphin Song Teams:

TEAM IRELAND
• David
• Sue
• Ken
• Anne
• Annabel
• Kristin
• Cathy
• Jonathan
• Sue

TEAM UK
• Larry
• Chris
• Sue
• Boo
• Wil

(Boo and Sue above live in Ireland – but they know many people in the UK and around the world!)

TEAM USA
• Bill
• Eve
• Michelle
• Debbie
• Ann
• Cindy
• Peggy
• Patricia
• Anne
• Danny

Let’s give each other a big clap, shall we 😊 (SFX: applause as we clap for each other from across the seas!)

Where Dolphin Song Stands on 17 August 2021

As you all know, I am astonished by the performance of the novel and know that my friend Liam O’Neill would be shocked, surprised and oh-so-very pleased. Here are the rankings right now, based on relevant categories for each market;

• The paperback outperforms in the US at NUMBER ONE (#1) position in Contemporary British & Irish Literature; #10 in Australia; #20 in Germany; #40 in Canada; and trailing in the UK, #224

Note that I don’t know how many copies of the paperback or Kindle formats have sold, nor do I care. Rankings indicate trends, and those trends are all on the up. Too, it’s not about the money at all (complete disclosure: I make a buck a copy). As you all know, it’s about Liam and making good on his wishes.

Press
The reaction by local press has been surprising, even though the book has only been available for 8 days. I guess word is spreading. I was interviewed yesterday and today by local papers. When those are published (this week and next), it SHOULD generate interest from other regions in the country including radio, TV and the larger media. The objective: what I’m hoping is that, eventually, a so-called ‘Influencer’ (think Oprah) will hear of the novel and give it a mention. Then we all get out of the way as the sales boulder gathers momentum. But I can only wish…

Other Resources
I’ve set up a Media Kit to make it easier for the press. The Kit contains photos, press releases, and similar. You can access it too if you need anything. Go to: https://www.tomrichards.ie/press-kit/. Scroll down the page until you see the DS book cover. Click on CLICK FOR MEDIA KIT, and it takes you right there.

What You Can Do Right Now
I’m asking for only two things:

a. The First Free Chapter – I’m attaching this as a pdf document. PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERY friend, relative, group, associate, enemy and complete stranger you know, or don’t know. My intention is that it will generate interest in the book and motive more sales. Do please open it and take a look. As you can see, the first page sort of explains what DS is all about, tells readers where they can purchase, and asks anyone in receipt of it to, in turn, pass it on to THEIR friends. So its rather like word of mouth. The more people who receive it, the more awareness it will generate. I hope…

b. The tomrichards website – I’ve never had my own website and I’m already embarrassed about it. However, this is what the pro’s tell ya to do, so who am I to argue? As with the Free Chapter pdf, please send the URL out too. If you open the website, you’ll see that visitors can order Dolphin Song no matter where they live with a Single Click

c. Here is the URL: https://www.tomrichards.ie/

Do please take care where ever you are. And thank you so very much for your continuing support and encouragement. You don’t know how grateful I am.

With so many blessings from Beara. And thank you, again.

A PLEA FOR VOLUNTEERS TO JOIN THE DOLPHIN SONG GLOBAL TEAM!

Hey everyone and I'm looking for a bit of help. Dolphin Song is succeeding beyond my wildest dreams. The paperback outperforms in the US at NUMBER ONE (#1) position in New Release Contemporary British & Irish Literature; #10 in Australia; #20 in Germany; #40 in Canada; and trailing in the UK, #224.

To continue to spread the word, I've formed teams in Ireland, the US and the UK. Right now we number 24. I won't ask much - perhaps forwarding an email I send out to Team members every week or so to everyone you might know: friends, relatives, colleagues, enemies and complete strangers. Hah!

I could sure use more help in the United States, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Canada - or anywhere else for that matter! If you can help please email me at mailto:tomrichards@earthnet.ie, or by going to: https://www.tomrichards.ie/contact/, filling in the note and including your email address. I so much appreciate it. Together, we work for my friend Liam, who passed away from hospital acquired Covid, helping to make his dreams a reality. Blessings and thank you. Tom

Hi and just wanted to send you the following. Can you please forward to other people if they ask? So many, many thanks. Tom:

Irish Readers Can Order the #1 New Release DOLPHIN SONG from Amazon Germany

Due to Brexit, Amazon UK is unable to fulfil orders in the Republic of Ireland for the Irish Romantic Fantasy Dolphin Song which is now at #1 New Release for Contemporary British & Irish Literature on Amazon US.
Irish readers can order the Paperback or Kindle versions at the same price by going to: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Tom-Richar...

1336 16 August 2021. Irish romantic fantasy novel Dolphin Song by Tom Richards leaped to #1, New Releases / Contemporary British & Irish Literature / Amazon.com.

The writer told the packed audience of 1 (his dog) that he cannot BELIEVE the development. As we report this, he is down on bended knee, amazed, confused, and thanking God. "This is for my friend Liam O'Neill," he said in an unprepared statement. "God bless him and all who have supported me."

This is a developing story. For more information go to www.tomrichards.ie

A Gift: Cracking the Frustrating World of Global Online Book Markets: A How-to Guide

And a good Sunday to you all. As you know, Dolphin Song was launched last Monday, 9 August. So far, so good... but...

I've been a marketing fella for over 40 years and when I moved to Ireland I set up a marketing communications agency to survive. We did pretty well and counted Coke, EMC, Amex, Shell and many other Blue Chips among our clients. So, well, I guess I learned a thing or two about marketing over the years (in fact, I worked with G'reads friend Paul Higgins on many projects).

The marketing of Dolphin Song is one of the toughest projects by far. So - well, ya know, I'm 65. I've had a pretty good life. And I want to share what I've learned to anyone interested. Call it a journal of sorts. It's Free, and it's for you if you want it. Feel free to read it, burn it, share it with friends - whatever you want to do. You can download it from here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folder...

Thank you all so much for your kind support. We keep marching - there's still so much to do to maintain - and increase - the global momentum for Dolphin Song. With all my best from Beara Peninsula, Ireland. Tom www.tomrichards.ie

Thank you for supporting Dolphin Song. The novel launched on Monday 9 Aug and since then has stayed at #30 or above...at one point was up to #14...in Amazon US Contemporary British & Irish literature category ... paperback...and continues to do well in many marketplaces.

I am gobsmacked and so so so very grateful.

If you care to, check out the Dolphin Song Giveaway for 50 Kindle formats to the novel. The competition ends 31 August

Again, all my thanks. Truly appreciated. Tom

I am Humbled by Your Well-wishes at the Launch of Dolphin Song

Good morning. Earlier on today I checked my phone and I was absolutely stunned to see the hundreds and hundreds of congratulations, likes, loves, and best wishes which were sent to me from all over the world. I thank you so very, very much for your thoughts and prayers. I only wish that my great friend, Liam O’Neill, was here to enjoy this, too. I know he’s smiling down with that wonderful grin on his face.
Just a few things to report:

• Goodreads Giveaway: Goodreads (www.goodreads.com) has launched a Dolphin Song Goodreads Giveaway. Entry for one of 50 Kindle copies is free. Unfortunately, only those living in the United States can enter (I’m not sure why this is the case. Ah me.)

To enter, go to: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway?so.... Scroll down the page to find Dolphin Song.

• Kindle and Print Formats of Dolphin Song now available: as many know, we moved up the release date for this Irish Romantic Fantasy.

Both versions (Kindle and Print) can be ordered and delivered as of right now! (See https://www.amazon.com/Dolphin-Song-T... if you’d like to order)

• IF YOU HAVE PRE-ORDERED A KINDLE COPY: due to the new release date, and if you Pre-Ordered, your Kindle copy should be delivered to you in the next day or so.

• New Trailer: the OUT NOW cinematic trailer for Dolphin Song has been released. Have a look if you’d care to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urzhF...
Once again, thank you so very much for your continuing support.

Please help to spread the word….

I am humbled.

With gratitude from Beara Peninsula.
Tom

10 Aug Update: well, Dolphin Song is launched. And my, what a journey it's been. 'Course, there was a scheduling screw-up as is often the case. The novel was SUPPOSED to have been launched on 21 September, the equinox. But due to an unexpected shift in the earth's axis, equinox leaped forward! You can see why here:

https://survivingireland.blogspot.com...

Greetings to all from Beara Peninsula, and thank you, all, for your many kindnesses. Tom

5 Aug Update: Formatting is back from the Format guy, and has also been re-proofed. Finally, it looks good. The eBook version has been uploaded to KDP. The Print version - well, the page numbers have expanded due to the nicer format so the spine size has to be adjusted. Should have the artwork back in a day, then that'll go up onto kdp too. The To Do list is still huge, however.

DS Update: 4 Aug 21 - Mailchimp figured out, sorta. Going to use it to expedite an email campaign to 500 personal contacts I have in outlook. When this is all over, the entire thing done and dusted - success or failure - I promise to write a case study on the marketing of Dolphin Song. I am GOBSMACKED at how much work this is. Too, and while I'm a marketing guy, I usually market OTHER people's products and services, not my own. I find it all rather overwhelming and embarrassing for some reason. Why in God's Good Name would anyone want to read what I've written? .... that's the constant thought. Tells you all about a lack of confidence. Anyway -

Friends on Goodreads, if you would, I'd appreciate it if you would click "Want to Read" for Dolphin Song. There are Lord knows how many books here. This sort of thing will help the book to get noticed among the mountain of Incredibly Good Reads, and I'd really appreciate it. Blessings. Tom

Dolphin Song Update: 3 Aug 21 - and I thought writing the MS was hard... the rest of it is DAUNTING. But we're getting there. Professional formatting came back yesterday together with proofing. I re-read. Caught 12 errors. Back it goes to the format guy. Author website is now in Beta testing. Should GO LIVE soon. Upload of final MS into Amazon (Kindle / Print formats) scheduled for the weekend if Formatting comes back on time. It has to come back: I'll contact Goodreads re: Giveaway competition soon and MUST do that by 12 Aug. In the meantime: could you all pls spread the word? I have few friends on Goodreads and it's critical for success. Maybe you could ask YOUR friends to friend me? If that's not inappropriate. Blessings. I'll keep ye posted. T